I came up with a silly poem to give my secret Santa teacher pal on our final day, and I just thought I’d share that with you. But please be aware that you can eliminate the religious stanza to make it more adaptable to your Secret Santa.

I’m sure you’re thinking daily

Who sent this stuff to you?

She’s poetic and she’s crafty

Or at least she thinks that’s true

Perhaps you’d like a hint

Perhaps you want a clue

Well brace yourself, it’s coming

That’s what I’m about to do

The first time that I met you

I thought you were a farce

“No one’s that nice,” I said to myself

“She’s faking it, of course.”

How foolish was I, how stupid

To think it wasn’t you

With your sweet smile and clever eyes

And all the kind things you do

You had a secret. I didn’t know

That Jesus was in your heart

Your kindness is a reflection

Of those who stand apart

So now I understand

Your goodness is genuine

I can’t believe I thought you fake

The error is definitely mine

And someday when we’re old and gray

And ready to leave this place

I’ll see you up in heaven

With a genuine smile on your face

Unless they only let Catholics in

In which case I’m outta luck

I’ll wave to you from hell I guess

But that will really suck!

Now, of course, you’ll want to alter some of the words to fit your secret Santa pal. For example, you might want to change “Catholics” to “Baptists” (or whatever religion applies to your secret Pal belongs to). You could even change it to “Unless they only let science teachers in” if the person’s religion is unknown. Also, if the person is not a Christian, just eliminate the “Jesus was in your heart” stanza from the poem, and you’re good to go.

And remember, my sister site is a lot of fun too: https://chellywood.com/ It offers free, printable doll clothes patterns for anyone who enjoys sewing.

Now, of course, you’ll want to alter some of the words to fit your secret Santa pal. For example, you might want to change “Catholics” to “Baptists” (or whatever religion applies to your secret Pal belongs to). You could even change it to “Unless they only let science teachers in” if the person’s religion is unknown. Also, if the person is not a Christian, just eliminate the “Jesus was in your heart” stanza from the poem, and you’re good to go.

And remember, my sister site is a lot of fun too: English Emporium. It offers free journal topics for teachers.

buy the tube-o-cookies from Pilsbury; cut and bake according to the easy directions

buy a cookie tin at your local dollar store and fill it with bakery cookies

or do the same with a red or green wicker basket

The container for your cookies can be as decorative as you wish without being too expensive. Party stores sell simple lunch sacks in various colors (sometimes red-and-green or candy cane striped for the holidays). Or like I said above, you can buy a cookie tin at the dollar store this time of year, without any problem. Line it with festive crepe paper or a Christmas kitchen towel.

I’ll be giving my secret Santa pal cookies this week (today most likely), and I plan to put just four small home-made cookies in the same Christmas card boxes that I made for her two weeks ago. Here’s the link to see the instructions for that.

If you want to stretch your cookie-giving gifts for a week, offer a theme:

on day one, offer your secret Santa only one shaker of red candy sprinkles

on day two, give your secret Santa another shaker of green candy sprinkles

on day three, wrap up a container of Betty Crocker pre-made frosting

on day four, surprise your secret Santa with a box of food coloring

on day five, offer up a basket of Christmas-tree shaped (or star-shaped, or Santa-shaped) pre-baked holiday cookies, ready for decorating

Just come in after school, ask the custodian to open his/her room for you, and string some holiday lights all around his/her desk. (I recommend you use the kind with an on/off switch, so he/she can turn them on when he/she comes in; or maybe you can show up early for work and have them turned on when your secret pal arrives.) How fun!

String twinkle lights around your secret pal’s computer.

Line the edges of her desk with them as well.

Have them curl around his overhead projector, frame his Smartboard, or top his bulletin boards.

Your secret pal may even leave them up after the holiday season. You can leave a note on your secret pal’s keyboard that says simply, “Your Secret Santa was here!” Or leave a note with a wee little poem inside:

Secret Santa came by today

To light up your holiday!

Hope you like the twinkle lights

When grading papers day and night

This string of lights is yours to take home

Or leave in the classroom ’till the new year’s come

What a festive way to light up your days

And calm the classroom during the holiday craze

If it’s not Christmas time, think of a theme your secret pal might enjoy. Maybe even use lights in your school’s colors. Here are some links to fun twinkle lights available on Amazon.com: